By: Bucy H.B. No. 51
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to requiring fine arts as part of the foundation
  curriculum for public schools.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 28.002(a) and (n), Education Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Each school district that offers kindergarten through
  grade 12 shall offer, as a required curriculum:
               (1)  a foundation curriculum that includes:
                     (A)  English language arts;
                     (B)  mathematics;
                     (C)  science; [and]
                     (D)  social studies, consisting of Texas, United
  States, and world history, government, economics, with emphasis on
  the free enterprise system and its benefits, and geography; and
                     (E)  fine arts; and
               (2)  an enrichment curriculum that includes:
                     (A)  to the extent possible, languages other than
  English;
                     (B)  health, with emphasis on:
                           (i)  physical health, including the
  importance of proper nutrition and exercise;
                           (ii)  mental health, including instruction
  about mental health conditions, substance abuse, skills to manage
  emotions, establishing and maintaining positive relationships, and
  responsible decision-making; and
                           (iii)  suicide prevention, including
  recognizing suicide-related risk factors and warning signs;
                     (C)  physical education;
                     (D)  [fine arts;
                     [(E)]  career and technology education;
                     (E) [(F)]  technology applications;
                     (F) [(G)]  religious literature, including the
  Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and New Testament, and its impact
  on history and literature; and
                     (G) [(H)]  personal financial literacy.
         (n)  The State Board of Education may by rule develop and
  implement a plan designed to incorporate foundation curriculum
  requirements into the career and technology education curriculum
  under Subsection (a)(2)(D) [(a)(2)(E)].
         SECTION 2.  Section 28.003(b), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  In this section, "educational program" means a course or
  series of courses in the required curriculum under Section 28.002,
  other than a fine arts course under Section 28.002(a)(1)(E)
  [28.002(a)(2)(D)] or a career and technology course under Section
  28.002(a)(2)(D) [28.002(a)(2)(E)].
         SECTION 3.  Section 28.025(b-1), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b-1)  The State Board of Education by rule shall require
  that the curriculum requirements for the foundation high school
  program under Subsection (a) include a requirement that students
  successfully complete:
               (1)  four credits in English language arts under
  Section 28.002(a)(1)(A), including one credit in English I, one
  credit in English II, one credit in English III, and one credit in
  an advanced English course authorized under Subsection (b-2);
               (2)  three credits in mathematics under Section
  28.002(a)(1)(B), including one credit in Algebra I, one credit in
  geometry, and one credit in any advanced mathematics course
  authorized under Subsection (b-2);
               (3)  three credits in science under Section
  28.002(a)(1)(C), including one credit in biology, one credit in any
  advanced science course authorized under Subsection (b-2), and one
  credit in integrated physics and chemistry or in an additional
  advanced science course authorized under Subsection (b-2);
               (4)  three credits in social studies under Section
  28.002(a)(1)(D), including one credit in United States history, at
  least one-half credit in government and at least one-half credit in
  economics or personal financial literacy & economics, and one
  credit in world geography or world history;
               (5)  except as provided under Subsections (b-12),
  (b-13), and (b-14), two credits in the same language in a language
  other than English under Section 28.002(a)(2)(A);
               (6)  five elective credits;
               (7)  one credit in fine arts under Section
  28.002(a)(1)(E) [28.002(a)(2)(D)]; and
               (8)  except as provided by Subsection (b-11), one
  credit in physical education under Section 28.002(a)(2)(C).
         SECTION 4.  This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024
  school year.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the
  legislative session.